Poultry coop or crate



Jan. 13, 1 25. 1,522,370

a. E. DEAN POULTRY COOP OR CRATE Filed April 30. 1924 INVENTOR 664/ Z Z fizaxi A TTORNEYS' Patented Jan. 13, 1925.

GEORGE E. DEAN, OF ALBION, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 UNION STEEL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF ALBION, MICHIGAIT.

POULTRY CO'GP OR CRATE.

' Application filed April 30,

To all a 710m it may concern Be it known that I, Gnonen E. DEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albion, county of Calhoun, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Poultry Coops or Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in poultry coops or crates.

I have illustrated my improvements as I have embodied the same in poultry coops or crates for exhibition purposes, although they are well adapted for use in shipping crates or the like.

The main object of this invention is to provide in a structure of the class described an improved door structure in which the door is automatically retained in open position when moved to such position and may be quickly released.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of my improvements will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. I is a fragmentary side elevation of a poultry coop of the battery type embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. II is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing one of the doors in full lines in closed position and by dotted lines in open position.

Similar reference numerals similar parts in both views.

Referring to the drawing, I provide a frame consisting of the corner uprights 1 andhorizontal bottom pieces 2, the structure illustrated being provided with casters 3.

In the structure illustrated there is a series of decks or compartments, but I do not illustrate the structural features thereof as they form no part of this invention.

Each compartment is provided with a wall panel consisting of top and bottom horizontal rods t and 5 respectively and vertical slats 6 formed of wire. These vertical slats are disposed to provide door indicate 1924. Serial No. 709,994.

openings, the opening being between the slats 7 and 8.

The door designated generally by the numeral 9 consists of the bottom cross piece 10, the top cross piece 11 and the vertical slats 12. The bottom cross piece 10 is provided with eyes 13 at its ends which slidably embrace the slats 7 and 8. The slide 14 is mounted upon the top horizontal bar at to slidably embrace the upper end of the door. As the door is pushed upwardly, the eyes 13 sliding on the parts; 7 and 8, one of the eyes comes in contact with a stop 15 formed by an offset in the slat 7. This stop is in spaced relation to the upper end of the slat 7. The other eye engages the inclined portion 16 of the slat 8, thereby tilting the door edgewise within its supporting slides 14, and, owing to the binding action of the eyes upon the slats 7 and 8 the door is retained in its elevated position shown by dotted lines in Fig. II until it is brought to a vertical position, when the door falls or will close by gravity. It may be moved to vertical position by pushing laterally as by the arm of the operator in the event the hands are not free.

By this arrangement of parts I provide an effective means for holding the door in open position. The parts are economical to produce and assemble.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination of a wall panel comprising horizontal bars and vertical wire slats secured thereto and disposed to provide a door opening, a door slide formed of wire secured to the top horizontal bar, and a door slidably embraced by said slide and provided with a bottom piece having eyes slidably engaging the adjacent wall panel slats, one of which has an olfset therein in spaced relation to its upper end providing a stop and the other having an inclined portion at its upper end whereby when said eyes are engaged with said stop and inclined portions of said slats the door is tilted laterally within said slide.

2. The combination of a. wall panel comprising horizontal bars and vertical Wire slats secured thereto and disposed to provide a door opening, a door slide formed of wire secured to the top horizontal bar, a

door slidably embraced by said slide and provided with a bottom piece "having eyes slidably engaging the adjacent wall panel, such slats being conformed to automatically tilt the door edgewise within said slide when the door is pushed upwardly.

3. The combination of a wall panel com prising vertical slats disposed to provide a door opening, and a door provided with a bottom piece having eyes slidably engaging the adjacent wall panel slats, one of which has an offset therein providing a stop for the eye and the other an inwardly inclined portion with which the other eye engages to 'tilt the door laterally when in its raised position to thereby support it.

4. In a poultry crate, the combination of a wall panel comprising vertical slats dis posed to provide a door opening, and a door provided with a bottom piece having 5. The combination of a wall panel pro vided with a. door opening, a door having eyes at the bottom thereof, vertical slide members with which said eyes are slidably engaged, one of said slide members being provided with a stop coacting with one eye and the other with an inclined portion with which the other eye engages when the door-is moved to its raised position, said stop and inclined portions'being disposed in different horizontal planes whereby the door is tilted edgewise when in raised position. 7

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand. a

' E. DEAN. [1,. S 

